Keeping hosts happy this Thanksgiving

According to AAA, 48.7 million Americans will travel this Thanksgiving at least 50 miles or more.

If you, or your clients, are traveling home to see family or friends, here is what you can do- and what to avoid- to be a better guest.

According to a survey of 2,000 adults, HomeAdvisor found the biggest pet peeves hosts have are indefinite stays and snooping, followed by showing up unannounced. Bringing additional guests and critiquing a host’s home are also big no-nos, according to hosts surveyed. However, not bringing a gift or not treating the host to a meal were at the bottom of the list of pet peeves.

Millennial hosts are most bothered with snooping, while Generation X has no patience for indefinite stays. Baby boomers equally can’t stand guests showing up unannounced and staying indefinitely.

And what are the most common visitor violations, according to the survey? More than 70 percent of guests said they didn’t bring a gift, while nearly 60 percent didn’t send a thank you note. Nearly half left sheets on the bed when they departed. However, very few of those surveyed brought a pet or critiqued a host’s home, at loud at least.

Across generations, each has their own violation that irks their hosts. Millennials are most likely to show up early, while Generation X members are more likely to not bring a gift for the host. Baby boomers are the most likely to clean the host’s home without asking. On the other hand, all three generations were pretty good about keeping their personal area clean in the host’s home.

Here in the northeast, 64 percent of hosts will receive a gift, the highest in the country.

HomeAdvisor said the best guests arrive and depart as expected, bring a gift and send a thank you note after.